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When we bring out our Buddhability, we stop seeking validation.
Answer: There are times we know we are putting in the work, but feel like no one notices. Or worse, others take credit for things we’ve done.
Feeling unappreciated can eat at us, make us angry and frustrated. Why did I even make an effort to begin with?
But not to worry, each action we take for others has a profound effect regardless of whether others appreciate it or not. For thousands of years, Buddhism has taught the principle of cause and effect. Each one of our actions, in other words, has a real effect in the world, even if it is unseen or unappreciated by others. As the 13th-century Buddhist teacher Nichiren describes: “Unseen virtue brings about visible rewards.”
Buddhism encourages us instead to have confidence that each effort we make will have a wonderful effect, resulting over time in a wonderful life.
While it’s easy to feel unappreciated and go into a downward spiral of self-pity and resentment, Buddhism encourages us instead to have confidence that each effort we make will have a wonderful effect, resulting over time in a wonderful life. We don’t need to seek validation from others. On the flip side, if we give into our resentment and give up on taking action all together, then we’ll be the ones who lose out in the end.
Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo inspires us each day not to give into the negativity that nothing we do matters. We find confidence that that every action we take will make a difference, that we write the script of our future. This attitude gives us confidence and allows us to actually feel compassion for the people who gloss over our efforts or even take credit for them.
So, don’t let feelings of being unappreciated distract you from making the world a better place. There’s so much to do, let’s keep going.